Category Archives: Television

The Monks now lead the planet, and to most of humanity, they appear to have been on Earth for millions of years, guiding the species’ development. Bill and a few others know the truth. Nardole locates Bill, and they search for the Doctor. They locate him, but he is cooperating with the Monks. Bill shoots him and it appears he is regenerating, but it is all a trick to see whether Bill has been fooled by the Monks.

At the university, the Doctor speaks to Missy, who reveals Bill has to die to break the Monk’s influence on Earth. The Doctor hopes there is another solution, therefore they infiltrate the Monk’s pyramid in London.

The Doctor attempts to break the link but fails. Bill prepares to sacrifice herself, however the Monk’s images are replaced with those of Bill’s mother, which represents hope. Due to their actions, the Monks leave and humanity recall none of the events. Back in the Vault, Missy expresses remorse at those she has murdered.

Well, I could see the ending to this coming about half way through. Evil beings are always weak minded and the good somehow have intellect to win. The only thing different is that the Doctor does very little. It’s Bill that’s the one with initiative.

Starbuck returns to the Galactica and faces doubt from her former crew members as she tries to convince them she knows the way to Earth. Meanwhile Baltar takes up residence with a faction of his followers who believe he can save a young boy suffering from viral encephalitis.

The episode’s title is a reference to the Book of John, chapter 11:25-26 in the New Testament of the Bible, which quotes; “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…”

Baltar joins a cult and seems to think he is Jesus, wants to die then affects a cure. He’s either insane, or the saviour.

Starbuck has returned. She’s either a Cylon, or has been on hallucinogenic drugs for the last three months.

A series of flashbacks reveals the chronicles of the Battlestar Pegasus and its crew from the initial Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, up to its meeting with Galactica, while Apollo’s new XO deals with the harsh reality of Admiral Cain’s legacy. Chronologically, this fits into Season 2 between the episodes “The Captain’s Hand” and “Downloaded”.

Going back in time isn’t a good look for the start of the final season. It looks like the writers are running out of ideas. But it does bring back the excellent Michelle Forbes. The main character is played by Stephanie Jacobson who has a bit of an Aussie accent.

The story is just OK, but it’s saddles with constant flashbacks that interrupt the flow of the main story.

The Doctor is called in by the Secretary General of the U.N. after a pyramid mysteriously appears on the strategic border of the Russian, Chinese and U.S. armies. It’s revealed the Monks are responsible for the pyramid and that they have forseen a disaster through their simulations, offering an opportunity to save humanity if they consent to their rule. Elsewhere in a biochemical lab, a scientist accidentally misreads the levels of chemicals in an experiment releasing a deadly biochemical virus. The Secretary General offers his consent, but is killed when he is viewed to be acting out of fear.

The Doctor summarises that the disaster was unrelated to war, but may be biochemical. After the Doctor and Nardole locate the lab, Nardole collapses following exposure to the virus whilst waiting in the TARDIS. The Doctor with the assistance of Erica, a lab worker, summarises the only way to stop it would be to destroy the lab. He becomes stuck on the side of a manual lock however, due to his blindless.

Bill makes a deal with the Monks to restore The Doctor’s sight despite his protests. He manages to escape but at the expense of handing the planet over to the Monks.

This one holds together better than the previous episode. Bill’s decision at the does seem out of character and is only there as a prequel to the next episode.

A long time ago, the Doctor is sent to execute Missy, only to have Nardole interrupt on the behest of River Song. He refuses to kill Missy, instead opting to imprison and guard her for 1000 years.

In the present, the Pope comes to the Doctor, asking to help translate a text called “Veratis.” Everyone who has translated it has committed suicide, and the Doctor, Nardole, and Bill are brought to the Vatican to investigate. While there, Bill and Nardole discover a portal, which leads them to the Pentagon. They find the portals being projected leading all over the world.

The Doctor temporarily restores his sight using Time Lord technology, but is ambushed by aliens. Nardole realizes the projectors are not projecting portals, but the whole world. His realization causes him to dematerialize.

Bill finds the Doctor, who tells her the world is a simulation, and Veratis contains the proof. Bill is killed by the alien, the Doctor realizing this is a test to see if they can conquer the Earth. However, the simulation is too exact, as his sonic sunglasses still work perfectly, and the virtual Doctor sends his information to the real one to warn of the coming invasion.

After an accident nearly kills President Roslin, Tyrol defies Adama to demand safer working conditions throughout the fleet – and makes himself the rallying point for a strike.

Unusually, for an American show they take on unionization. After the setup and conflict, resolution appears to be just happen without consequence.

What’s surprising is the manual labour that takes place in this future society. It’s my usual complaint about sci-fi shows, where is the robotics and mechanization. Even how we are more advanced than the manufacturing process depicted in the episode.